Author Archive | Joy Bergman

Our Temporary Life by Jim Rower “Woe to him who strives with his Maker! …Shall the clay say to him who forms it, ‘What are you making?’ Or shall your handiwork say, ‘He has no hands’?” –Isaiah 45:9 “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory […]

The Power of Wind by Jane Josephs “But God remembered Noah…and He sent a wind over the earth…” –Genesis 8:1 On a recent camping trip, in a matter of seconds, our pop-up canopy (though weighted) was lifted by the wind and sent crashing into our RV, shattering the side window. No one was hurt and […]

Freedom from Bitterness By Amy Ruiz “For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.” —Matthew 6:14-15 My husband and I were reading a Max Lucado devotional book called Grace […]

It Didn’t Take God By Surprise by Amy Schmitz Ruiz “Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in Your book before one of them came to be.” –Psalm 139:16 Sometimes I love surprises, like when my kids announce that they cleaned their bedroom without being asked or when […]

316 by Donna Middlestead I grew up at 316 W. Mahoning Street. I was blessed to be raised in a loving, Christian home. However, I did not realize at the time how important the number 316 (three sixteen) would be in my life. Years later, I was searching for material to use for the PLC “OK Club” […]

Flipping the Switch by Camille Polzin When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.” –John 8:12 Whenever you walk into a dark room, you must be careful so that you don’t trip […]

Worth the Wait by Christopher Cook “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.” –Romans 8:18 An act. That’s what it all felt like, anyway. Walking into church every Sunday and feeling like I was missing a click that everyone else seemed to have…like […]

God Never Changes by Ashlynn Witt “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” –Hebrews 13:8 Entering high school this year has brought so much change into my life. Going to a new school meant losing a lot of my friends because we didn’t end up all going to the same school this […]